News Releases

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Reminds Voters to Vote by Absentee Ballot if They are Unable to get to the Polls for the State Primary on August 14

Posted Date: 8/2/2012

OFFICE OF THE MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE

*** NEWS RELEASE ***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: Patricia Turgeon (651) 201- 1332

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Reminds Voters to Vote by Absentee Ballot if They are Unable to get to the Polls for the State Primary Election on August 14

St. Paul, Minn. - August 2, 2012 - Secretary of State Mark Ritchie today reminded voters to vote by absentee ballot if they are unable to get to the polls for the state primary election being held on August 14. Absentee ballots must be completed and returned on or before Aug. 14 to be counted for the primary.

"The August 14 primary is less than two weeks away, and if a voter knows that they will be unable to make it to their polling location on Election Day there is still time to vote absentee," said Secretary of State Ritchie.

Eligible Minnesota voters can vote by absentee ballot either by mail or in person for one of the following reasons:

•Absence from the precinct (away from home on Election Day) •Illness or disability •Serving as an election judge in another precinct •Religious discipline

To vote absentee in person, voters must go to their county auditor’s office during regular business hours Monday – Friday until Aug. 10, between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sat., Aug. 11, or up until 5 p.m. on Aug. 13. In-person absentee voting may be offered at many municipal clerk offices as well. If you are not registered to vote, an election official will provide you a voter registration form to complete along with your absentee ballot materials. To successfully register, voters must show proof of residence.

Voters who choose to vote absentee by mail can download and print an absentee ballot application on the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State’s one-stop election information website www.mnvotes.org . They may also contact a county auditor or municipal clerk directly to obtain one. Upon receipt of your application, election officials will send you a ballot by mail to complete. Absentee voters who wish to track the status of their ballot to ensure their ballot is counted should use the Absentee Ballot Lookup at www.mnvotes.org.

“Voters in the state primary choose the candidates that will be on the general election ballot on November 6. Have a voice in our democracy and exercise your right to vote by casting a ballot in the state primary on August 14,”concluded Secretary of State Ritchie. ###